Peach Tree, ‘La Feliciana’

Grow Your Own Fresh Fruit Trees! Imagine fresh peach pie from your own peach tree!
The ‘La Feliciana’ peach is sweet and juicy with yellow skin & a scarlet blush. The flesh is firm and the flavor is balanced between sweet and tangy. This is a heavy-bearing, high quality peach. It is an excellent freestone peach for mild winter areas. It is an abundant producer and tolerant to bacteriosis and brown rot. This peach’s disease resistance and adaptation to warmer areas makes it a great choice for the lower South. The beautiful, light-pink blossoms will add beauty to the tree in springtime, and ‘La Feliciana’ peaches ripen in late June to early July.

This exceptionally heavy yielding peach requires less winter chill than many varieties, making it more suitable for areas with mild winters. It bears an early summer crop of medium-sized, sweet and juicy peaches with attractively red-blushed skin. The freestone fruits are equally valued for canning, baking and fresh eating. Self-pollinating, ‘La Feliciana’ does not require a second pollinator tree in order to produce a crop.

The peach is the most adaptable of all fruit trees for home gardens. When planting, they should be spaced to allow a spread of 20 feet. At 3 or 4 years of age they begin to bear large crops and reach peak productivity at 8 to 12 years. Peaches need clear, hot weather during their growing season and require well-drained soil as well as a regular fertilizing program. They also require heavier pruning than any other fruit trees to maintain size and encourage new growth. Most peach varieties are self-pollinating, not requiring a second tree. Cannot tolerate extreme winter cold or late frost.

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Description

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Plant Details +

Height

12-20' or as pruned

Spacing

12-20'

Hardiness

Zones 5-9, -10º to -20ºF

Exposure

Full sun

Foliage

Green

Fruit

Yellow Skin and Scarlet Blush

Harvest

Late June - Early July

General Information +

Botanical: Prunus persica 'La Feliciana'

Cultivator Type: Peach, 'La Feliciana'

Tip: This peach is disease resistance and adaptation to warmer areas makes it a great choice for the lower South. Water regularly during first growing season to establish deep root system.

Planting/Care Instructions +

Pollinator: Self-pollinating

Moisture: Average water use. Water regularly as needed.

Planting Instructions: May be planted in any well-drained soil.
1. Dig a hole large enough to encompass the roots without bending or circling.
2. Set the tree in place so the crown (part of the tree where the root meets the stem) is about 1-2 inches below the soil surface.
3. Cover with soil to the original soil surface and water thoroughly.

Fruit Tree Production: Planting Conditions:
When choosing a site to plant your fruit tree(s), there are several factors to consider.
1. Consider the MATURE SIZE of the tree when picking a location and provide adequate space for the tree to mature. A good rule of thumb is to space trees ½ of their mature spread, i.e., if a tree has a mature spread of 20', plant each tree no closer than 10'. Also keep this in mind when planting near structures.
2. Fruit trees prefer full sun. Do not plant trees under other shade trees or near tall structures that will cast shade upon the tree.
3. Plant in well drained soil. Fruit trees do not like to have "wet-feet", in other words, they do not like to be in soils that drain slowly or hold water.
Pollination
When fruit trees produce a large spring bloom, it does not guarantee a plentiful harvest. Successful pollination must occur to produce viable seed, which leads to the development of fruit. There are several ways in which pollination can occur: some fruit trees are "self-pollinating", others are partially self-fertile and require another tree to provide pollen, usually from the same type of tree but a different variety.
Pollination Tips:
1. Plant two or more varieties of the same tree. This is the most reliable way of ensuring successful fruit. This is a good idea even with trees that are self-fertile as more fruit set is likely when they are cross-pollinated.
2. Attract bees to your yard. Bees are the number one source for pollination in all fruits.
3. Avoid using insecticides. Although insecticides can benefit by killing harmful garden pests, they also can kill beneficial insects (bees) and therefore should be used only when absolutely necessary. It is NEVER recommended to use insecticides near your fruit trees when they are in bloom.
Growing
1. Thin Fruit. After fruit set, if the tree has produced a large amount of fruit and when the fruits are still small, remove 20-35% of the fruits. This will allow the plant to put all of its energy into the remaining fruits, which will in turn produce larger and healthier fruit. If thinning is not done and the plant produces an over-abundance of fruit, it sometimes will throw the tree into a biennial (every other year) producer. Therefore, it is important to thin fruit when the tree produces a large amount of fruit.
2. Rake Leaves. Do not allow fruit tree leaves to fall and remain on the ground under your trees. They can produce spores that can be harmful to the fruit tree. It is important to remove the leaves in the fall before winter.
3. Pruning. Prune during late winter or early spring before the tree breaks dormancy. It is recommended to prune trees on a yearly basis.
4. Cultural Practices. In areas that mice and rabbits are a problem, wrap the trunk of the tree with a quality tree wrap. Also, avoid mechanical injury with weed-eaters and lawn mowers as damaging the bark near the base of the tree can limit fruit production, stunt growth, and in some cases lead to the death of the tree.